Host South Africa win toss and choose to bowl first in Boxing Day Test against Pakistan

South Africa won the toss and put Pakistan into bat on the opening day of the first test at Centurion on Thursday, hoping to make early inroads with an all-out pace attack.

South Africa are chasing a place in next years World Test Championship final but, in order to do so, must win at least one test in the two-test series against Pakistan.

“It was a tricky decision to make but we’d like to have a go with the new ball,” said South Africa captain Temba Bavuma after winning the toss.